French Prime Minister François Bayrou will face a critical parliamentary hearing on Wednesday as he testifies before an inquiry commission investigating decades of alleged physical and sexual abuse at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram Catholic school in southwestern France.
Bayrou, who served as education minister from 1993 to 1997, has been accused by political opponents of failing to act on reports of systemic abuse at the school during his tenure. The 73-year-old centrist, appointed prime minister in December 2024, has denied wrongdoing, dismissing the allegations as a politically motivated campaign to "destroy" him.
The hearing, set for 5 p.m., marks a pivotal moment for Bayrou, whose credibility has eroded amid the scandal. A recent poll showed his approval rating at just 27%—the first time it has fallen below President Emmanuel Macron’s since he took office.
The case has struck close to home for Bayrou. His eldest daughter, Hélène Perlant, came forward in April as one of the victims, alleging that a priest beat her at a school summer camp when she was 14. Though she clarified that her father was unaware of the incident, opposition lawmakers have seized on the family ties to question Bayrou’s oversight.
Bayrou’s statements about the scandal have been contradicted by multiple witnesses, including survivors who describe enduring lifelong trauma. "The state failed to protect the children of Bétharram," said Alain Esquerre, a spokesperson for a survivors’ collective. Over 200 legal complaints have been filed since 2024, detailing abuse by staff and clergy between 1957 and 2004.
While Bayrou has survived no-confidence votes in France’s fractured parliament, analysts warn that the hearing could intensify pressure on his government. "The scandal alone may not topple him, but it could embolden rivals to exploit other weaknesses, like the budget crisis," noted the Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy.
Bayrou’s allies insist he is not the focus of the inquiry, which examines broader state failures in preventing school violence. Yet critics, including Green Party lawmakers, accuse him of perjury and demand his resignation. Even within Macron’s coalition, doubts linger. "If he lies before parliament, he’s finished," an unnamed senior ally conceded.
The commission, led by co-rapporteurs Paul Vannier and Violette Spillebout, will deliver its findings in late June after interviewing victims, officials, and former ministers. For now, Bayrou’s fate hinges on Wednesday’s testimony—an opportunity, he insists, to "prove the allegations false" and salvage his embattled premiership.